Lubricating rocker arm support for engine valve mechanism



Aug. 12, 1941.

c. T. DOMAN LUBRICATING ROCKER ARM SUPPORT FOR ENGINE VALVE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26. 1938 gyJINVE NT'. I

ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 12, 1941. c. T. DOMAN. 2,252,171

LUBRICATING ROCKER ARM SUPPORT FOR ENGINE VALVE MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 26, l938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED stares PATENT orries LUBRICATING ROCKER ARM SUPPORT FOR ENGINE VALVE MECHANISM Carl T. Doman, Geddes, N. Y., assignor to Aircooled Motors Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 26, 1938, Serial No. 242,548

9' Claims. (01. 1846) This invention relates to overhead valve mechanisms for internal combustion engines, and has for its object a rocker arm supportand assembly of the rocker arms thereon by which the bearings of the rocker arms on the support and also the ends of the rocker arm's, Where they coact with the lift rods and the valve rods, are aclequately lubricated.

It further has for its object a rocker arm support and rocker arm assembly which is particularly compact and economical in construction, and by which the rocker arms are adequately, without being excessively, lubricated.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an end view, partly in section, of a cylinder embodying this invention, the cover for the overhead valve mechanism being omitted.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, looking to the left in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on line 33, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevation, looking to the left, in Figure 3 of the rocker arm support.

The mechanism is shown as applied to the cylinder head of one of the cylinders of a horizontally opposed motor, and the figures are arranged. in the with this type of motor in mind.

l designates the head of a cylinder, it being shown as provided with heat radiating The head is formed with substantially flat outer surfaces 2 through which the stems, as 3, 4, of the valves extend. The valves are held seated by the usual springs, as 5, which thrust at their outer ends against spring abutments 6 on the valve stems.

The valve mechanism includes a rocker arm support 1 for rocker arms it, 9 which coact with stems 3, 4 of the intake and exhaust valves of the engine and also with the lift or push rods, as It), operated in the usual manner by the cam shaft of the engine, the lift rods extending through tubes I! located between the surface 2 of the head and the crank casing, as will be r understood by those skilled in the art. These tubes, which, in horizontal engines, are inclined. and in upright engines, vertical, serve to conduct excess oil back to the crank case. i

The rocker arm support 1 is in. the form of a r bracket or post having a base flange I2 mounted on the surface 2 of the head] of the engine and secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by studs or screws l3; Said support 1 is provided with ahead portion M formed with intercommunicating passages or bores through which lubricant or oil issupplied from the pressure lubricating system of the engine to thebearings of the rockerarms, and also to the ends of the rocker arms where they coact with valve stems 3, 4 and the push rods H3. The lubricating system for the rocker arms in the rocker arm support 1 or the head portion I4 thereof comprises a substantially central bore l5 extending length-- wise or the head portion l4 and preferably opening through the outerend thereof for connection in the pressure lubricating system, a pair of additional bores l6 and I1 opening through different or opposite sides of the head portion and extending in tangential directions relative to the bore. l5 and opening thereinto, hollow bearing studs l8 alined with theadditional bores, and secured to the head portion I4 by fastening mem bers l9 extending axially through the hollow studs, the fastening members being of less diameter thanthe passagesof the hollow studs, whereby oil passages 20 are provided around the fastening members, which oil passages communicate through the inner ends of the'bores l6, I1 with thecentral bore l5, and ducts Z! etxending radially from the passage of the stud through the periphery thereof, so that the lubricant isied into the bearings for the rocker arms.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the bores l6 and I1 arearranged with their axes at an inclined angle relative to each other, and the hollow studs l8 are seated at their inner endsat 22 in the bores I6, I! but do notextend so far into the bores as to out off communication with the bore l5.

r The fastening members l9 are here shown as screws extending axially through the studs I 8 and threading at 23 into the head portion of the support at the inner ends of the bores it, 51. Preferably; a bushing 24 is interposed between each of the studs l8 and the hub 25 of the adjacent rocker arm and an annular groove 26 communicating with the radial ducts 2! is formed either in the inner face of the bushing or in the periphery of the stud, here shown'a's in the stud. The heads of the fastening members or screws l9 thrust through a suitable lock washer 2! against the washer 28 thrusting against the outer end of the bushing. The inner end of the bushing 23 and also the inner end of the hub 25 of each rocker arm thrusts against a flat annular face 29 or 30 on the head portion around the bore H or H.

In order to lubricate the ends of the valve stems 3, 4 or the ends of the push rods it, each of the rocker arms is formed with oil ducts, as 3|, extending lengthwise of the long arms thereof and opening at their outer ends in position to discharge oil into the ends of the valve stems and at their inner ends communicating at 32 with a radial duct in the bushing 24, this duct being alined with the annular groove 28. The short arms of the rocker arms are provided with similar ducts 33 for discharging oil onto the ends of the push rods in. The central duct I5 is connected through a suitable coupling 34 and a pipe 35 in the pressure lubricating system of the engine,

The valve mechanism is covered by a suitable cap, not shown, snugly fitting the surface 2 on the head of the engine.

In operation, the oil is forced through the pipe 35, coupling 34, bore l5 into the tangential bores l6, I! through the hollow studs l8, radial ducts 2|, groove 26, to the periphery of the bushing, where the hubs of the rocker arms are lubricated, and also through the ducts 3| and 33 to supply oil to the ends of the valve stems 3, 4 and the push rods It. Any excess oil that may accumulate, drains back to the crank case of the engine through the tubes I I, which also house the push rods l0.

By this construction, the rocker arms support is particularly small and compact, and at the same time provides'ample thrust and bearing surfaces for the rocker arms.

What I claim is:

1. An overhead valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines including a rocker arm support mountable on the head of a cylinder of the engine and including a head portion having a bore therein for connection to a pressure lubricating system, and bores on opposite sides thereof extending in a general direction tangential to the former bore and opening at their inner ends thereinto, hollow bearing studs supported on opposite sides of the head portion with their interiors in communication with the tangential bores, the hollow studs having radially extending ducts, and rocker arms having hubs mounted to rock about the studs, whereby the oil feeds from the first bore into the tangential bores, the hollow studs and through the radial ducts.

2. An overhead valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines including a rocker arm support mountable on the head of a cylinder of the engine and including a head portion having a bore therein for connection to a pressure lubricating system, and bores on opposite sides thereof extending in a general direction tangential to the former bore and opening at their inner ends thereinto, hollow bearing studs supported on opposite sides of the head portion with their interior in communication with the tangential bores, the hollow studs having radially extending ducts, and rocker arms having hubs mounted to rock about the studs, whereby the oil feeds from the first bore into the tangential bores, the hollow studs and through the radial ducts, said tangential of alinement.

3. An overhead valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines including a rocker arm support mountable on the head of a cylinder bores being arranged out of the engine and including a head portion having a bore therein for connection to a pressure lubricating system, and bores on opposite sides thereof extending in a general direction tangential to the former bore and opening at their inner ends thereinto, hollow bearing studs supported on opposite sides of the head portion with their interiors in communication with the tangential bores, the hollow studs having radially extending ducts, and rocker arms having hubs mounted to rock about the studs, whereby the oil feeds from the'first bore into the tangential bores, the hollow studs and through the radial ducts, the tangential bore and companion stud on one side of the head portion being arranged with its axial line inclined with respect to that of the tangential bore and stud on the other side of the head portion.

4. An overhead valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines including a rocker arm support mountable on the head of the cylinder of the engine and including a head portion formed with a substantially central lengthwise bore opening through the outer end thereof for connection to the pressure lubricating system of the engine and with transverse bores opening through opposite sides of the head portion and opening into the former bore in substantially tangential directions, hollow bearing studs mounted on opposite sides of the head portion and seated in the latter bores, fastening members extending axially of the studs and into the head portion, the fastening members being of less diameter than the passages of the studs, rocker arms having hubs mounted to rock about the studs, the studs having radially extending ducts opening through the periphery thereof for supplying lubricant to the hubs.

5. An overhead valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines including a rocker arm support mountable on the head of a cylinder of the engine and including a head portion formed with a bore for connection to a pressure lubricating system and also with flat bearing faces on opposite sides thereof, the head being also formed with additional bores opening through said faces, the additional bores extending in general tangential directions relatively to, and opening into the former bore, bearing studs seated in the latter bores, fastening members therefor extending axially through the studs into the head portion, the passages of the hollow studs being of greater diameter than the fastening members and the hollow studs being formed with radially extending oil ducts, and rocker arms having hubs mounted to rotate about the studs and thrusting against said faces.

6. An overhead valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines including a rocker arm support mountable on the head of a cylinder of the engine and including a head portion having a lengthwise bore therein for connection to a pressure lubricating system, and a laterally extending bore on one side thereof extending in a general tangential direction relatively to, and opening into the former bore, a hollow bearing stud supported on the head portion coaxially with the transverse bore with its interior communicating with the tangential bore, the hollow stud having a passage for conducting the oil from the interior to the periphery thereof, and a rocker arm having a hub mounted to rock about the stud, whereby the oil feeds from the first bore into the tangential bore, and the hollow stud to the periphery thereof.

7. An overhead valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines including a rocker arm support mountable on the head of a cylinder of the engine and including a head portion having a lengthwise bore therein for connection to a pressure lubricating system, and a laterally extending bore on one side thereof extending in a general tangential direction relatively to, and opening into the former bore, a hollow bearing stud supported on the head portion coaxially with the transverse bore with its interior communicating with the tangential bore, the hollow stud having a-passage for conducting the oil from the interior to the periphery thereof, and a rocker arm having a hub mounted to rock about the stud, whereby the oil feeds from the first bore into the tangential bore, the hollow stud to the periphery thereof, and fastening members extending axially of the stud into the head portion, the fastening members being of less diameter than the passage of the stud.

8. An overhead valve mechanism for internal combustion engines including a rocker arm support mountable on the head of the cylinder of the engine and including a head portion formed with a lengthwise bore for connection to a pressure lubricating system and also with a flat bearing face on one lateral side thereof, the head portion being also formed with a transverse bore opening through said face and also opening at its inner end into the former bore, a bearing stud seated in the tangential bore, a fastening member extending axially through the stud into the head portion, the passage of the stud being of greater diameter than the fastening member, the stud being formed with a duct opening through the periphery thereof, and a rocker arm having a hub mounted to rock about the stud and thrusting against said face.

9. An overhead valve operating mechanism for internal combustion engines including a rocker arm support mountable on the cylinder of the engine, the support including a, head portion formed with a bore for connection to a lubrieatin system and with a pair of bores opening through its side faces and communicating with the former bore on opposite sides thereof, hollow studs extending from the head portion and arranged with their passages alined with the bores of the pair respectively, clamping screws extending axially of the hollow studs and threading into the head portion, the screws being of less diameter than the passages of the studs, said passages of the studs being in communication at their inner ends with the first bore through the inner ends of the pair of bores, and the bores of the pair opening into the passages of the stud around the screws at the inner ends of the studs, and rocker arms having hubs mounted to rock about the studs, the studs also having radial passages, all whereby the lubricant enters the first bore and is forced into the pair of bores and into the hollow studs to the exterior thereof to lubricate the bearings of the hubs.

CARL T. DOMAN. 

